Smoggy days set records in Chinese cities

China Daily, December 31, 2013

Heavy smog shrouds Beijing on Dec. 24.

The average number of smoggy days in Chinese cities reached 29.9 in 2013, the highest in 52 years.

The National Meteorological Center said smog blanketed more than 100 large and medium-sized cities in 25 provinces during the year.

Thirteen provinces experienced record numbers of smoggy days.

Wu Xiaoqing, vice-minister at the Ministry of Environmental Protection, said an increase in vehicles and emissions of waste gas and industrial dust contributed greatly to the smog.